An assessment of the factors causing food waste along the vegetable supply chain: a case of Soweto market in Lusaka.
| dc.contributor.author | Tembo, Misael | |
| dc.date.accessioned | 2025-09-23T07:41:59Z | |
| dc.date.available | 2025-09-23T07:41:59Z | |
| dc.date.issued | 2025 | |
| dc.description | Thesis of Master of Science Operations, Project and Supply Chain Management. | |
| dc.description.abstract | Globally, 14% of the world's food valued at $400 billion per year continues to be wasted along the supply chain after it is harvested and before it reaches consumers. In Zambia, there has been an increase in vegetable production from 157,500 tons in 1972 to 445,625 tons in 2021. Soweto Market holds an average share of 74% to 87% of vegetables produced in Zambia. However, Soweto Market has been recording an increase in vegetable waste and there is a significant research gap particularly on the causes of food waste along the vegetable supply chain. As such the study aimed to assess the factors causing food waste along the vegetable supply chain at Soweto Market. The specific objectives were to establish the major types of food waste generated along the Soweto market vegetable supply chain; to determine the factors that cause food waste along the Soweto market vegetable supply chain; to evaluate the cause of these factors on food waste along the Soweto market vegetable supply chain; to propose measures that can be applied to mitigate food waste along the Soweto market vegetable supply chain. The study adopted a deductive research approach and employed a descriptive research design. Stratified Random Sampling was used to determine a sample size of 110 smallholder vegetable farmers who farm, package, transport, store, and sale for themselves. Structured questionnaires were used to collect primary data and were summarized by descriptive statistics. Inferential statistics provided an in-depth analysis of the hypothesises tests through regression analysis. The study used SPSS software version 25.0 to aid the data analysis. The findings indicated that the independent variables, except for packaging, showed high reliability and internal consistency, indicating their suitability for factor analysis. It was also found that processing linkage has a significant positive effect on food waste. The study recommends Supply chain stakeholders to focus on improving processing linkages and review regulations among others to reduce food waste. The study has a theoretical and industrial impact because it contributes towards the current literature on the reduction of food waste along the vegetables supply chain and provides practical guidance to sales managers and policy makers. KEYWORDS: Food waste, Vegetable supply chain, Regulations, Process linkage, Supply chain management | |
| dc.identifier.uri | https://dspace.unza.zm/handle/123456789/9416 | |
| dc.language.iso | en | |
| dc.publisher | The University of Zambia | |
| dc.title | An assessment of the factors causing food waste along the vegetable supply chain: a case of Soweto market in Lusaka. | |
| dc.type | Thesis |